Published 12/29/08

Oregon Coast Range Snow-Free, Biz Still Hurting

Snow-covered roadsides give way to clear pavement along Highway 26, at the summit.

(Oregon Coast) - Sometime over the weekend, the roads to the coast not only vastly improved but completely cleared up, as Highways 6, 26 and 18 lost all trace of snow. The temperature warmed up well above any chance of ice as the freezing elevations rose drastically higher than the highest summit on the roads to the coast.

Yet cancellations were still rampant this weekend at coastal lodgings, and the normally busy week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve dried up right along with the snow. Meanwhile, recent weather-related issues about flooding created more misconceptions about travel to the coast.

Phil Kaufman, owner of Pizza Garden in Nehalem, received two phone calls from concerned drivers wondering about conditions on the coast due to flooding in Seaside.

Looking east from the summit on Hwy 26.

"There’s a misleading amount of coverage about that on TV, apparently," Kaufman said. "They said they'd seen the footage of flooding in Seaside. But that happens all the time there. It’s nothing. It’s completely passable, and it’s not going to affect driving south towards Manzanita in any case, even if it was a problem.”

BeachConnection.net traveled up to the coast range summit at Highway 26 Sunday, about milepost 27. There, at the highest spot of any coast range highway, the elevation is 1642 feet. There were no hints of ice on the highway and only tiny patches of occasional slush. The coast range had completely cleared up, although the sides of the roads were covered in the aftermath of major plowing.

Highway 6 to Tillamook and Highway 18 to Lincoln City were also the same. Highway 20 to Newport had been clearer than the others during the whole snow event period and also reports completely clear roads.

Some new dustings of snow are expected on the coast range, but it’s expected to melt quickly and be a non-issue.

The drive to the coast is, if anything, a little more extraordinary than usual right now, with a sort of fairy tale vibe due to snow covered hills compacted tightly around the highway.

See video of the drive through the coast range below.

During the snow event period, the tourism economy on the coast was hit pretty hard – even harder than last year’s windstorm that wreaked havoc on the north coast. While many businesses were shut down for a whole week in December of 2007, this time both the north and central coast were cut off from tourists for more than a week.

“It’s our worst December on record,” said Danielle Emerick, manager of Starfish Point in Newport. That sentiment is echoed around the coast, with many saying others are telling them the same thing.

Brian Hines, owner of San Dune Inn in Manzanita, said his business is off about 72 percent compared to last year.

“And remember the last two years saw more snow and four-day power outages here on the coast, which thankfully hasn't been the case this year, so far,” Hines said. “We had small amounts of snow compared to Portland, and US 101 was pretty much clear most of the time. It just reinforces how important US 26 is as an artery to the north coast. There were days when the mail or newspapers never made it.

Highway 6, between Tillamook and Portland.

“Personally, I feel the general economic downturn is playing its part also. Christmas week is normally a busy week and we are generally 60 to 70 percent full on Christmas Day. But an absolute zero this year - not because of cancellations but just no reservations, period.”

In Newport, Oregon Beach House Rentals was dismayed to see its big last week of the year dissipate so badly.

“Out of 25 rentals for different portions of last week, I think I had two who actually got through and came,” said owner Michele Franck. “One woman said it took them eight hours from Oregon City to Lincoln City on December 23.”

Franck, like many others, said a good number of tourists who cancelled for this week are re-booking for later, forecasting a decent return to normality.

“We just had our best November in all the years in this business,” Franck said. “So December wrecks that number.”

Inn at Cannon Beach. Beautifully wooded natural setting at quiet south end of Cannon Beach. Great during winter storms with a new book by the fireplace – or when the sun is out for family fun and beach strolling. Handsome beach cottage-style architecture. Lush flowering gardens and naturalized courtyard pond. Warm, inviting guest rooms. Continental buffet breakfast. Warm Cookies. Family and Pet Friendly. Welcome gifts. Smoke-free. Complimentary Wireless Connectivity. Wine and book signing events. 800-321-6304 or 503-436-9085. Hemlock At Surfcrest, Cannon Beach, Oregon. www.atcannonbeach.com.

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